Rotating insert for flanging and widening metal tubes, &#34;a flanging bit&#34;

ABSTRACT

Rotating insert for flanging and widening metal tubes, “a flanging bit”, with a metal body, for use with flanges and metal tube widening in split-type air-conditioning connection systems, domestic refrigerators, chiller cabinets and the like; characterized by the rotary actuation method, which can be coupled to a drill or screwdriver, which requires no counterpoint mechanism (1), which is composed of a coupling cylindrical body (15) and a flanging tip with a single stage (19) or multiple stages (20), with different flanging diameters (gauges).

This invention relates to a metal insert which should be coupled to a rotary drive mechanism for flanging/widening the ends of metal tubes. Actuation of the insert may be achieved through the use of “drills” or “screwdrivers” and, as a final result, it is able to flange metal tubes, especially of application in split-type air conditioning systems connections, refrigeration systems and liquefied petroleum gas transport system connections and similar elements. These are faster than the current State of the Art, due to the heat generated by the rotation of the insert within the metal tube.

Therefore, the insert has the purpose of forming:

1) a 45° angle flange opening at the ends of the tubes, or;

2) widening of the metal tube for coupling with a tube of the same gauge, or;

3) a widening with a flange opening for coupling another metal tube of the same diameter.

The industrial sectors, notably the refrigeration industry and business, are in search of equipment that simplifies, optimizes and reduces the time of production and work. As an example, the need for widening and forming flanges in metal heat exchanger tubes, such as copper tubes and aluminum tubes, for the production of condensation and evaporation units, in residential, commercial and industrial applications.

This patent application is directly related to patent PI0902047-0 A2, which clearly denotes the characteristics of the connection where flanged tubes are applied. However, this differs because it deals with the method of obtaining the shape of the flanged tube or, as denoted in the patent PI0902047-0 A2 mentioned above, an “angled tube”.

There are currently several mechanisms for obtaining a flanged tube. However, there are differences in the subject-matter of this invention:

1) the design of the operating tool;

2) the mode of application, which can be carried out using a “drill” or “screwdriver”;

3) the ability to make, with one insert, multiple flanges in tubes of different gauges, due to the different diameters in a single insert;

4) it does not require a counterpoint system, “mordant”, to fasten the metal tube to be flanged;

5) formation of the flange using heat, so as to avoid hardening of the flange material;

6) the characteristic of the final flange obtained, with its homogeneous and resistant microstructure, due to its formation using heat.

Initially, in reference to the current State of the Art, there are two flanger models available on the market, called a) “conventional flangers” and b) “eccentric flangers”:

-   -   a) The conventional flangers (FIG. 1) are characterized by         having a “mordant” for fastening the tubes (1) and a flanger         mechanism, the latter, in turn, is made up of a body for         attachment to the “mordant” (2), a screw spindle (3) which is         coupled to the body, a 45-degree conical tip (4) coupled to one         end of the spindle and a drive crank (5) at the other end of the         spindle. This system is characterized by a concentric alignment         (FIG. 2), between the axis of the spindle (6) and the axis of         the conical tip (7). During the execution of the flange, the         contact zone between the tip and the tube is established across         the entire surface of the cone.     -   b) Eccentric flanges (FIG. 3) are characterized by having a         “mordant” for fastening the tubes (8) and a flanger mechanism,         the latter, in turn, is made up of a body for attachment to the         “mordant” (9), a screw spindle (10) which is coupled to the         body, a 45-degree conical tip (11) coupled to one end of the         spindle and a drive crank (12) at the other end of the spindle.         This system is characterized by the eccentric misalignment (FIG.         4), between the axis of the spindle (13) and the axis of the         conical tip (14). During the execution of the flange, the         contact zone between the tip and the tube is established across         a linear contact of the cone.

Although both promote the final shape of the flange, the current State of the Art requires the use of a “mordant” (counterpoint) to shape the flange. Coupling of the tube to the “mordant” and the execution of the flange takes a long time to execute because, for example, in the case of split-type air conditioning applications, it is necessary, to make a total of four flanges per unit. That is, two flanges per tube. It is necessary for the gauge of these two tubes to be of different sizes. Moreover, because of their design, both shape the tube using cold forming which hardens the flanged material, incurring the risk of cracking the flange wall.

Referring now to the Rotating Insert for flanging and widening of metal tubes, i.e., the Flanging Bit. This allows the execution of the widening and/or flanging of metal tubes through an interchangeable insert system. These inserts may be coupled to drills (these may be those with a mandrel or pneumatic coupling) or even to electric screwdrivers.

Insert (FIG. 5) may be subdivided into the following parts:

-   -   a) a cylindrical body (15) for coupling to a drill or a         screwdriver by means of a mandrel.     -   b) A Hanger tip (16) to properly engage the metal tube (FIG. 6)         and impart at its tip (17) the shape of a flanged (FIG. 7) metal         tube (18) having an angle of approximately 45°.

The flange tip (FIG. 8) may contain one stage (19) or (FIG. 9) more stages (20) to make the flange in one or more tubes without needing to exchange the insert with another one of a different size and gauge. As an example, the same tip may have a diameter of 6.35 mm at the end near its tip and 12.05 mm at the end closest to the cylindrical body. In addition, it (FIG. 10) has a thin shape (21) and rounded corners (22), decreasing the contact points with the metal tube to only two, thus reducing the friction and the number of burrs.

Therefore, the invention is different from the present State of the Art in several aspects. First, since the insert does not require a counterpoint system (“mordant”) to execute the flange on the metal tube. Since the force required to hold the tubing in the working position is low, the user himself can maintain the positioning of the flanged tubing with his hands. Second, by working with a high-speed system, there is the presence of friction and heat generation in the pipe, facilitating hot forming of the flange without hardening in the flange region of the pipe. The absence of the hardening in the region of the flange avoids the problems of cracking during tightening of the connection, a recurrent problem in the State of the Art. Thirdly, the invention allows for the presence of one or more gauges within a same insert, having different diameters, decreasing the flange execution time, especially in the split-type air conditioning installations, being possible to flange different tube sizes using only a single insert.

The main objective of the insert in question is therefore to optimize working time due to its speed and ease of operation and to bring a higher quality result, keeping in mind that the tube is heated when being flanged with the insert and its better microstructural result with higher strength. In accordance with the applicability of the product, this invention seeks to optimize the process and time used to flange metal tubes for split-type air conditioning systems, but is not restricted thereto. It may also be applied to flange type fittings, in tubing for refrigeration applications or in pipe connections for systems using liquefied petroleum gas. 

1. Rotating insert for flanging and widening metal tubes, “a flanging bit”, with a metal body, for use with flanges and metal tube widening in split-type air-conditioning connection systems, domestic refrigerators, chiller cabinets and the like; characterized by the rotary actuation method, which can be coupled to a drill or screwdriver, which requires no counterpoint mechanism (1), which is composed of a coupling cylindrical body (15) and a flanging tip with a single stage (19) with different flanging diameters (gauges).
 2. Rotating insert for flanging and widening metal tubes, “a flanging bit”, as claimed in 1, and characterized by multiple stages (20) with different flanging diameters (gauges) within a single insert. 